This past week many people celebrated Easter. Considering Italy is a Catholic country, the traditions for celebrating the rising of Christ are quite extensive and are rooted deep in history. Specifically in Florence, there is a ceremony in the main Duomo called Scoppio del Carro and thousands of people gather around to watch. Essentially a mechanical dove that is lit on fire flies into a cart full of fireworks. There are big explosions and everyone gathers to watch in celebration of Easter. My roommate and I went to watch this event and we arrived too late to be able to see the main explosion, but from behind the building we could hear the angelic voices of the choir singing hymns and watched some of the fireworks from the cart. This is unlike any Easter I have ever experienced in the States. The amount of people that gather to celebrate as well as the flying, flaming dove is something so specific to this place that I will never forget it. The entire tradtition is symbolism, the dove symbolizing bountiful harvest and good luck for the city.

Another interesting tradition that differs from the States is their version of an Easter basket. For the past month in every grocery store there are tons of these large colorfully packaged chocolate eggs. I learned that instead of the Easter baskets that are customary in the United States, children are given these large chocolate eggs. Similarly to the dove in the Scoppio del Carro, eggs symbolize new life and rebirth. All of these tradtitions are deeply rooted in history and while hold the same ideas and sentiments as Easter in the States, it was interesting to see first hand the differences.

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Learn more about this blogger’s study abroad program: Florence University of the Arts